Breast Reduction with Dense Breast Tissue?

asked 10 months ago by Sera99 in Portland, OR
Latest answer by Leo Keegan, MD
Question viewed 431 times
Tags: age 35-44, 130-149 lbs, 5 ft 4 in to 5 ft 7 in, breast tissue, density

I am 42 Y.O., 5'6" and 145 lbs., and have maintained at or near a consistent weight my adult life (I also exercise daily). With age, my breast tissue has increased in density and size and I am troubled with frequent neck pain. Even the mammogram has a hard time getting a read on my dense breasts. Can a breast reduction be successfully performed when the actual breast tissue is very dense?

11 answers to Breast Reduction with Dense Breast Tissue?

Do Dense Breasts Interfere with Breast Reduction Surgery

Women with dense breasts are very good candidates for breast reduction surgery. In fact some of the internal shaping can be facilitated by the denser breast tissue.

Leo Keegan, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast Reduction Candidate?

Thank you for the question. You may be a great candidate for the breast reduction procedure; this procedure is one of the most patient pleasing operations we perform. Patients with dense breast tissue actually tend to end up with aesthetically pleasing results after surgery. It will behoove you to seek consultation with well experienced board-certified plastic surgeons. Best wishes.

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Breast reduction for dense breasts

Certainly, breast reduction can be done for dense breasts. In fact, this is usually the case when it is done on teenagers whose breasts are often extremely dense.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Dense breast tissue and breast reduction surgery

Patients with dense breast tissue actually get very nice results from breast reduction surgery! And, a breast reduction will certainly help alleviate any neck and back pain and improve shoulder grooving. Breast reductions do have effects on mammograms. You should have a baseline mammogram within a year prior to surgery, and a repeat about 6 months after your breast reduction.

B. Aviva Preminger, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Dense tissue is actually better

As stated by the other experts, dense breast tissue is not a problem for patients seeking breast reduction and lifting. In my experience, the dense quality of the tissue allows for better shaping of the breast and better longevity of the outcome. It's very likely most if not all of your symptoms related to your breasts will be improved following the procedure. Good luck!

David L. Kaufman, MD
Folsom Plastic Surgeon

Dense breasts is a non issue for breast reduction surgery

Yes! successfully and with better results! I have developed a revolutionary technique that takes the weight off the skin and trasnfers the weight onto your chest muscles. This relieves back, shoulder, and neck pain instantly in all my patients. I also take the excess skin and design an 'internal bra' that helps keep the newly moved breast mound in a permanent position. An internal cone is also designed to give more upper fullness that is similar to that of a... more

Gary M. Horndeski, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.horndeski.com

Breast reduction in dense breasts

Breast reduction can be done in dense breasts. The surgery is a little more difficult (for the surgeon) than a reduction in a fatty breast. The upside is that dense a.k.a. fibrous breasts, in my experience, hold their shape better over time. Breast reduction is a great operation and patient satisfaction is usually really, really high. Lisa Lynn Sowder, M.D. see photos

Lisa L. Sowder, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Breast reduction for dense breast tissue

The short answer is yes, breast reduction removes tissue whether it is heavy and dense or softer and less glandular. And women with dense tissue sometimes get more effective relief of their symptoms. So make an appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your individual situation. Good luck.

Margaret Skiles, MD
Sacramento Plastic Surgeon

Dense breast tissue and breast reduction

A breast reduction could certainly help the symptoms you describe and is not contingent on the type of breast tissue that you have. I find that women with "denser" breasts are often more troubled with the symptoms of heavy breasts. The breast reduction may also make mammography somewhat easier and also easier to examine your breasts both for you and your doctor. Although the breast reduction surgery will add some scarring internally, most mammographers will be... more

Jerry Lugger, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Breast Reduction for Dense Breasts

Breast reduction is certainly possible in women with heavy, dense breast tissue, and may very well lead to improvement of your neck pain. It is often also covered by insurance so I would recommend meeting with a plastic surgeon who accepts your health insurance for an evaluation-- he'll also be able to give you his opinion as to what type of result you can expect from a cosmetic standpoint.

Shahram Salemy, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Reduction Can Be Performed On Dense Breasts

The breast tissue in all women is comprised of glandular tissue and fatty tissue. Glandular tissue tends to be somewhat denser than fat. Reduction can be performed with any breast tissue including breasts which are very dense. It is interesting that you describe your breast tissue becoming more dense with aging which is opposite of the usual scenario. This is the reason mammograms are not typically done in younger women since their breasts tend to be denser. more